In this series we are exploring seven truths derived from Genesis 1:26-28 concerning God’s creation of man and woman so that we would understand God’s design of manhood and womanhood for our lives today.

Truth #4 : Man and woman are commanded to work and rule over every living thing

Point: Man is supposed to rule over every living thing according to God’s ways.

Proof

“God created man as uniquely qualified to rule over his creation” [1] That’s because man and woman was created in the image of God.

“and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26b)

Note how comprehensive this is with the types of creatures listed:

Creatures on water: “the fish of the sea”

Creatures in the air: “the birds of the sky”

Creatures on land: “the cattle and over all the earth”

Creatures crawling low on the ground: “every creeping thing that creeps on the earth”

Is the mandate to rule only for man? No, woman are also included since it says “let them rule” with the third person plural pronoun pointing back to the previous verse that was talking about “male and female”

“and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the [al]sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28b)

Again notice how similar this is with Genesis 3:26, two verses before this one.

If it repeats, it is for emphasis so we don’t miss the point.

The additional detail in Genesis 1:28 is God saying “subdue it.” To subdue the earth requires work. Thus God created man and woman to work.

Notice that male and females were created first before the Dominion Mandate is stated in verse 28 of what mankind is supposed to do.

Practice:

In order to rule over everything that requires work. Do you know that you were created to work?